The Bayelsa State Government has given the Oloibiri Clan in Ogbia Kingdom, 3 weeks deadline to present the Chairman of Ogbia Brotherhood and other nominees, so as the inauguration of a new substantive leaders who will pilot the affairs of the socio-cultural organization in the state will take place immediately.
The Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, gave the directive on Monday, while presiding over a high-profile meeting with leaders and stakeholders of Ogbia Kingdom at the Golden Tulip, Yenagoa.
He emphasized that, Ogbia Brotherhood founded in 1940 had played a vital role in promoting the unity and development of its Kingdom in particular, and Bayelsa State in general, and therefore, must not be allowed to collapse as a result of personal interests of few individuals in the community.
He disclosed that, the state Governor, Senator Douye Diri has directed that the dawdling leadership conflict in the organization should be resolved without any further delay, in honour of the former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, also in the best interest of the Ogbia people and the state collectively.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo urged the people of Oloibiri in Ogbia Kingdom, to work within the next three weeks they pleaded for during the meeting, in order to present the Chairman and other nominees, as part of the executives of Ogbia Brotherhood without delay.
He said, government will set machinery in place, to ensure the inauguration of the organization’s new leadership with or without their nominees at the end of the ultimatum.
“Ogbia Brotherhood has been a social torchlight that beams the light of unity and development among our people over the years, a very prominent organization, which predates most of us who are here. The contributions of the Ogbia Brotherhood to the development of Bayelsa, Nigeria, and the world cannot be overstated. And that is why every reasonable person must make sure that, that light keeps shining. So, we must first all look for the lubricant to keep that light burning, without going dim. Is unfortunately that, for quite sometime now it has been going through some leadership problems, which I consider as mere brotherly misunderstanding. So, I want to appeal to our people, particularly the Oloibiri Clan to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness which is the main key to resolve this ongoing misunderstanding and dispute’, he stated.
‘It is in this regard that, the Governor has directed that we must resolve the issues without any further delay. I have always insisted that every problem has a solution. So, we must collectively resolve this problem amicably.
Responding to the Oloibiri clan’s appeal, he said, “Government has granted your request for three weeks. But let me make it very clear that whether you succeed or fail to present your nominees at the end of the three weeks, Ogbia Brotherhood would go ahead to inaugurate the already cleared nominees from the other clans.”
Speaking on behalf of the Oloibiri Clan, former Secretary to State Government, Prof. Edmund Allison-Oguru, assured the state government that critical stakeholders of the clan, including Dr Goodluck Jonathan, would meet to reconcile their differences and present credible individuals to fill its positions in the leadership of Ogbia Brotherhood.
He appreciated the effort of the State Government to resolve the leadership impasse in the Ogbia Brotherhood, which he admitted, has lingered for some time.
Those who attended the meeting are the members representing the three Ogbia constituencies in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Gabriel Ogbara, Hon. Godknows Obein, and Hon. Richard Ibegu, as well as the Secretary to State Government, Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei and other top government functionaries. Also, the Obanobhan of Ogbia Kingdom, His Eminence, King Charles Dumaro Owaba, the Acting Chairman of Ogbia Brotherhood, Dr Azibaloguo Seibofa, as well as paramount rulers of the various clans and communities in Ogbia Local Government Area were present.
